互たがい

た

が

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

each other; one another

Used to express mutual or reciprocal relationships. Often appears in the adverbial form 互いに or with the particle の to modify nouns.

Usage patterns

互たがいに〈動どう詞し〉to do something to/for each other (mutually)
二人ふたりは互たがいに助たすけ合あって生いきてきた。
The two of them have lived, helping each other along the way.
互たがいの〈事こと〉each other's (thoughts, feelings, opinions, etc.)
夫ふう婦ふは互たがいの意い見けんを尊そん重ちょうするべきだ。
Married couples should respect each other's opinions.

Expressions

困こまった時ときはお互たがい様さまwe should help each other in times of need; we are all in this together

Kanji

互mutually, reciprocally, together

Related words

相そう互ごN2
相互 is a more formal, written word for mutual/reciprocal relationships, often used in official or academic contexts, while 互い is more general-purpose.

Politeness

お互たがいpolite 丁寧語N3
お互い is the more polite, everyday form of 互い, often used in spoken Japanese and set phrases like お互い様.

Word family

お互たがいN3
each other; one another
互たがいにN3
mutually; with each other; reciprocally
互たがい違ちがいN1
alternating; alternate arrangement; staggered
お互たがいにN2
mutually; with each other; reciprocally
相あい身み互たがい
mutual assistance; mutual sympathy
互たがい違ちがいに
alternately; in alternating order

Written forms

互たがいUsage90%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
たがいUsage10%

Etymology

Derived from the reduplication of 互 (たが), an old reciprocal element. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the form 互い has been used since classical Japanese to express mutual relationships.